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REAL MADRID | ZIDANE

Zidane oversees training with 6.000 fans present

The new Real Madrid coach was involved in his first training session this morning at Valdebebas in an ‘open-doors’ session. Bale was the major absentee working alone in the gym as a result of a muscle problem.

AmpliarReal Madrid's new French coach Zinedine Zidane (R) looks at his players during his first training session as coach of Real Madrid | GERARD JULIEN

Hours after being confirmed as new Real Madrid first team coach, Zinedine Zidane oversaw his first training session with the squad this morning at Valdebebas. The session coincided with the traditional pre-Reyes festival with members of the public being allowed to attend the training drill..

Approximately 6.000 supporters packed into the stand at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium in an attempt to see their idols and also see the new coach in action. Bettoni (Zidane’s number two) was the first person to appear preparing equipment before the squad appeared for the first stage of the session.

The notable absentee of the morning was Welsh player,. Gareth Bale who worked alone in the club’s gymnasium as a result of a muscle complication. The rest of the squad, augmented by Castilla players, Odegaard, Mayoral and Llorente trained under the watchful eye of the French coach.

The club backed down from just allowing season ticket holders into the sesión and massive queues formed from the early hours. Apart from the traditional volume of Spanish and international media who traditionally cover Real Madrid, there was a clear presence of French media at Valdebebas this morning, anxious to cover at clise hand the first hours of Zidane in his new role,